UPDATED: Message sent, respondents from Tanzania, Namibia, Burkina Faso say in reaction to news of foiled coup in Benin

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTER, Cotonou

“Whether the coup succeeds or not, what must be clear is that the message has been sent for the unruly behaviour of political class who drag the fortunes of Africa in the mud because of self gains they are promised by Western collaborators.”

Members of Pan-African Movement Forum, who reacted to The DEFENDER’s early Sunday’s report of military coup in the Republic of Benin, have described the development as Africa’s revolutionary changes along the military lines against unruly political class.

One of them said, “Whether the coup succeeds or not, what must be clear is that the message has been sent for the unruly behaviour of political class who drag the fortunes of Africa in the mud because of self gains they are promised by Western collaborators.”

The respondents, who spoke differently through the internet calls with The DEFENDER from Burkina Faso, Namibia and Tanzania in what they respectively described as their reactions to the global online newspaper’s report earlier, were speaking also amidst updates from the Republic of Benin saying the coup has been foiled.

The Benin’s Minister of the Interior, Alassane Seidou, had said that the country’s armed forces have thwarted the early Sunday’s military coup in the West African nation.

“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” said Seidou early on Sunday December 7, 2025.

“Faced with this situation, the Beninoise Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt,” he added.

About a dozen soldiers have been arrested, according to military and security sources in the country.

Earlier, Benin’s government said loyalist soldiers and national guard had regained control after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had seized power in an apparent coup attempt.

Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said on Sunday that the coup plotters had taken control of state TV only and that the signal had been cut for several minutes.

“There is an attempt, but the situation is under control. Now it’s a small group of military. A large part of the army is still loyalist, and we are taking over the situation,” Bakari told the Reuters news agency.

A group of at least eight soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri had appeared on screen to claim the overthrow of President Patrice Talon, who has been in power since 2016, as well as all state institutions. They also claimed that the country’s borders had been closed and that all political parties had been suspended.

The troops referred to themselves as part of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR).

“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail,” said a statement read by one of the soldiers.

After the takeover attempt, the president’s office had stated that Talon was safe and that the army was gradually regaining control, according to the AFP news agency.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency told AFP.

“The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” it said.

The French embassy said at the time of the state TV takeover that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s official residence in Cotonou, the country’s largest city.

An AFP journalist in Cotonou reported that soldiers were blocking access to the presidency and state television, as well as a five-star hotel and districts housing international institutions. But there was no military presence at the airport and the remainder of the city, and residents were going about their business, the agency reported.

The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) said in a statement that it strongly condemned the attempted military coup and would support efforts by the government to restore order.

The African Union (AU) also issued a condemnation the attempt, its chairperson Mahmoud Ali Yousouf stating that the bloc “strongly and unequivocally condemns” it.

His statement also reaffirmed the AU’s support to Talon.

“The African Union stands ready, in coordination with regional and international partners, to accompany the Government and People of Benin toward the full restoration of constitutional normalcy and the strengthening of democratic institutions.”

Talon is due to step down next April after 10 years in power.

The apparent coup attempt “does not come as a surprise to anyone”, Adama Gaye, a former director of communications at ECOWAS, reportedly said.

He stated that there has been a lot of political tension in the country, with many opposition members imprisoned.

Talon had managed to “eliminate key people in the opposition party, including former President Boni Yayi”, Gaye said, adding that he had designated his finance minister to take over the reins after the next election.

A number of coups have taken place across the continent in recent years, especially in West Africa. Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris said this latest event is making the region gradually regain “its notoriety for coup plots and military takeovers”.

Just last month, army officials in Guinea-Bissau seized power in a military coup with General Horta Inta-A named as the head of a one-year transitional government. The country has experienced nine coup attempts since its independence from Portugal in 1974.

In 2023, military leader Brice Oligui Nguema toppled Gabon’s then-President Ali Bongo Ondimba, a leader whose family had held power in the country for almost 56 years.

That same year, a coup removed Niger’s Mohamed Bazoum, a democratically elected leader who ruled for just two years before he was forced out of office. A military government was then installed, led by President Abdourahamane Tchiani.

In 2022, Burkina Faso’s military leader, President Paul-Henri Damiba, was deposed in the country’s second coup in a year, as army Captain Ibrahim Traore took charge.

In Mali, General Assimi Goita led soldiers to seize power in a 2020 coup.